"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" Baggage (TV Episode 2003) Poster

User Reviews

Review this title
4 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
8/10
Not "Liberal Man-Bashing" but based on a true story.
ebrown21121 June 2009
Warning: Spoilers
"Baggage" contains an intricate, twisty plot. At first, the victim's murder seems to have been motivated by her filing a sexual harassment suit against her co-workers, until Goren & Eames find that the victim had discovered an identity fraud scheme. But the killer's true motive goes even deeper.

As for claims of "liberal man-bashing", this episode is based on the Susan Taraskiewicz case. Susan was a Northwest Airlines baggage supervisor who kept a diary detailing the sexual harassment she suffered at the hands of coworkers. She was last seen on September 13, 1992 when she left Logan International Airport. Thirty hours later, her body was found inside the trunk of her car outside an auto body shop in Revere, Massachusetts. After an FBI team declared that the murder required two or three people, the investigation focused upon Northwest Airlines workers who had sexually harassed and physically threatened Taraskiewicz, who was a ramp supervisor. The same workers were engaged in a credit card theft ring, and before her death, at least one worker had claimed to others that Taraskiewicz was a snitch. Her murder remains unsolved. It is not "liberal man-bashing", despite what some believe.
23 out of 27 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Intricate baggage
TheLittleSongbird26 March 2020
After being a little disappointed by the episodes between "Malignant" and this, despite still finding them good, part of me was hoping that Season 2 would get back to the great level that it began with and had all the way up to "Malignant". "Anti-Thesis" being especially good. And there was real potential for it to do so, with a plot like "Baggage", which unlike a few of the previous episodes did seem to rise above the ordinary and didn't play it safe.

Based on a real-life case, so another ripped from the headlines case which the 'Law and Order' franchise at its best was very good at doing, "Baggage" didn't see Season 2 or 'Criminal Intent' quite return to form. It is certainly though a step in the right direction, the plot having more to it than the stories of some of the previous episodes and there is nothing really safe about it. Do agree with a previous reviewer with the criticism being referred to being a ridiculous and uninformed one, and that is not me trying to be ignorant.

Maybe some of the support acting was a touch tentative, competent enough but no real standout or outstanding performances.

Did think too that the perpetrator was caught out a little too easily, even for Goren's intense methods of getting to the truth.

"Baggage" has so many great things though. Not just the as solid production values, music and direction, but there is also an intelligent and tightly written script and great performances from all the main cast. Vincent D'Onofrio IS the show in my view and that's meant in a good way, while Goren can dominate too much as a character but he is also incredibly interesting and so much fun to watch. Cannot get enough of his mannerisms, his methods of getting to the truth, how he gets through people's minds and his teasing chemistry with Eames.

The story is tightly paced and twisty, as well as intricate. While not trying to cram too much in, which increases risk of rushed pacing and convolution (which "Baggage" just about avoids).

Summing, very good and a step in the right direction for the season. 8/10
9 out of 13 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Excess Baggage
ccthemovieman-130 August 2011
Warning: Spoilers
An airline baggage handler is getting harassed or grief or both from two fellow workers who are goons. She threatens to have them fired if they don't shape up. On her way home, her car stalls and she winds up being discovered in the trunk of her car the next morning - beaten to a pulp.

The story turns out to be about resentment of her getting a promotion and a bias by one of the people that is deep enough to make him kill her. The murder also reveals a credit card scam, and that winds up a bigger case than the murder as the locals have to call the FBI in.

The show ends with a couple of "The trouble with men is....." Funny, but I never seem to hear on Law & Order, "The trouble with women is....." Folks, it works both ways.
7 out of 23 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
4/10
Such an odd ball method of interrogating a suspect
mloessel30 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Vince D has the strangest way of interrogating. He will get up close and personal and let's hope he didn't eat garlic. And the suspect won't shut up. The closer Vinny gets the more the suspect opens up. Vinny will get so close that its annoying. He's very competent and thorough and yes when he believes he's got his perp the let's get real close is enabled and he won't let go. And the lawyer does nothing. If i'm the attorney i taking charge and we're out there.
6 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed